Citymaps: Could This New App Be More Useful Than Google Maps?

Fresh off an investment of $6 million, the recently redesigned Citymaps app may soon replace Google Maps—at least when it comes to travel planning—with intuitive features that make it as easy to create personalized maps as it is to discover new shops, restaurants, and bars wherever you're going.

The Citymap's difference, founders Aaron Rudenstine and Elliot Cohen explain, is that their tool focuses on places rather than directions. With information on a global constellation of roughly 80 million storefronts, the app connects with your phone's GPS to populate a map with anything from parks and convenience stores to hip boutiques and bars. While Google Maps is a great way to cue up information on a specific place, Citymaps is the perfect way to find a nearby spot you didn't realize you'd like.

The app also allows you to search for maps of cities you plan to visit, letting you pre-populate a custom map with the addresses you’re most interested in. If any of the users you’re following have tips in your destination city, you’ll also see those. And should a friend ask for your advice on where to go after you come home, you won’t need to type up one of those long emails with all your advice: You can simply send them a link to your trip map, and they’ll be good to go.

This article has been updated to include a lowercase letter m in Citymaps.